Evaluation of effects of quantification of food thickness on prevention of aspiration in stroke patients with dysphagia / 中华护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effects of quantifying food thickness on reducing aspiration in stroke patients with dysphagia.Methods A total of 76 stroke patients with grade 2 to grade 3 dysphagia hospitalized in department of neurology from March to August,2017,screened by Kubota's drinking water test was recruited and divided randomly into the experimental group(n=38) and the control group(n=38).The patients in the experimental group were treated with conventional dietary nursing and dietary guidance according to the results of quantifying food thickness via thickening agent.The patients in the control group were treated with conventional dietary nursing.Results There were 8 cases (21.05％) occurring aspiration in the experimental group,and there were 28 cases (73.68％) in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01).Conclusion Quantification of food thickness using thickening agent can effectively reduce the rates of aspiration in stroke patients with dysphagia.